(Encyclopedia) Al Qaeda or Al QaidaAl Qaidaäl kīˈĕdə, käˈĭdä [key] [Arab.,=the base], Sunni Islamic terrorist organization with the stated goals of uniting all Muslims and establishing a…
(Encyclopedia) Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah), 1929–2020, emir of Kuwait (2006–20). He held a number of government posts, including foreign minister (1963–2003) and deputy…
(Encyclopedia) Mamun, al- (Abu al-Abbas Abd Allah al-Mamun)Mamun, al-mäm&oomacr;nˈ [key], 786–833, 7th Abbasid caliph (813–33); son of Harun ar-Rashid. He succeeded his brother al-Amin after a…
(Encyclopedia) Al-FarghaniAl-Farghaniäl-färgäˈnē [key] or AlfraganusAlfraganusălfrəgāˈnəs [key], d. after 861, Arab astronomer. Al-Farghani was born in Farghana, Transoxania (present-day Fergana,…
(Encyclopedia) Gezira, AlGezira, Aläl jəzēˈrə [key], or Al JazirahGezira, Aläl jäzēˈrä [key], region, SE Sudan, occupying the tract between the White and Blue Niles south of their convergence at…
(Encyclopedia) Al AziziyahAl Aziziyahäl äzēzēˈyä [key] or AziziaAziziaăzĭzēˈä [key], town, NW Libya, near Tripoli. It is a major trade center of the Jifarah plain. Al Aziziyah was long considered to…
(Encyclopedia) Manamah, AlManamah, Aläl mänämˈä [key], town (1991 pop. 127,578), capital, commercial center, and largest city of Bahrain, on the Persian Gulf. It has oil refineries and light…
(Encyclopedia) Arish, AlArish, Aläl ärēshˈ [key], town (1986 pop. 67,337), NE Egypt, in the Sinai peninsula, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a fishing port and a military and administrative center;…
(Encyclopedia) Shafi'i, al- (Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i), 767–820, Islamic jurist. Raised and educated in Mecca and Medina, he taught in Egypt and Baghdad. His teachings laid the…
(Encyclopedia) Baladhuri, al-Baladhuri, al-äl-bäläˈᵺ&oobreve;rē [key], d. c.892, Arab historian. One of the most important Arab historians, he spent most of his life in Baghdad and enjoyed great…
